Rees off the mark for Slane

Moneyslane hit three as they ousted Oxford Sunnyside out of the Bob Radcliffe Cup on Saturday.

Summer signing Gareth Rees bagged his first Slane goal while Jonny Kernaghan added to his tally for the season and Stevie Coulter was also on target in Lurgan.

On a bright, sunny afternoon and with the pitch in good condition, it was the away team that dominated the early part of the game.

Gregg Harrison had a great chance after 10 minutes but he blasted just wide. Gareth Rees then played a superb ball over the top of the defence for Brian Quilty to latch onto but he couldn’t find the target either

Slane were playing some patient football and Mark Ervine was prominent in midfield as theypiled on the pressure but too many times the final pass or cut back failed to find its intended recipient.

A Kernaghan free-kick was saved by the home keeper before, right on the half time whistle, forward Harrison was played in but under pressure form a covering defender he uncharacteristically fired just over.

Slane started the second half just as they had the first, by putting the home team on the back foot.

On 60 minutes, the breakthough came when Harrison laid the ball off to Johnny Kernaghan, who expertly curled a shot into the roof of the net with the outside of his foot from 20 yards.

Skipper Gareth Bingham came on for Mark Ervine and soon after, it was 2-0 when a good break down the right saw Brian Quilty cut the ball back for young Gareth Rees to coolly side foot home from eight yards for his first goal in a Slane shirt.

Just when it looked comfortable for the visitors, a moment of slackness saw an Oxford Sunnyside free-kick played into the box and an unmarked player headed home from 12 yards.

The goal gave the home team a lift and they pressed forward but rarely troubled Stephen White in the Slane goal.

As the game approached 90 minutes, Harrison hit the bar but Stephen Coulter was on hand to drive the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle.